Very cleverly written Christmas story. Not your more common cute romance. Loved the setting in Ireland and the heartwarming story. Inspirational on making life choices.

Two parallel tales with the same characters, they start at the same point but how will Liv's story end? An unusual, enthralling love story.

This was really two stories, on what might have have happened.

I found this quite depressing and really lacking in any Christmas cheer.

I struggled to engage with the characters.

This was not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy. This is a really good book, kept me entertained throughout and I would thoroughly recommend to all.

Written in a Sliding Doors style, this is the story of Liv, a nurse from Ireland, working in a Dublin hospital and getting ready to go home for Christmas. As she leaves the hospital late on Christmas Eve she is saved from being hit by oncoming traffic by stranger, Finn. Finn is badly injured and Liv spends time at the hospital making sure he recovers. Here is where the stories diverge - in one Liv remains in Dublin at Finn's side for Christmas; in the other she goes home as planned. In both her horrendous boyfriend, Eddie, who takes her for granted and takes advantage of her generous nature, and his even more awful mother come for dinner to Liv's family home, where there is still sadness at Christmas as Liv's twin died from cancer, so there is a gaping hole where she should be. It's easy to follow both stories as they're in different fonts. The main outcomes are the same by the time we reach New Year. The events of the end of the story did confuse me, and I wondered about their inclusion, but it did draw both strands together if in a jaw dropping way. Full of sadness, but not without humour, this was a very "Irish" read and it was easy to imagine the snowy country village and farm where Liv grew up. #netgalley #thefirstdayofchristmas

Liv is due to return to her home town for Christmas, where she’s expecting her boyfriend to propose. But as she leaves her last shift at the hospital, she’s involved in a traffic accident. Should she stay in Dublin with the man who saved her life, or return home to her family? Which is the right way?

Like Sliding Doors, the book splits into two versions - Liv staying or leaving. For most of the story, it worked okay, as I could follow the plot, although how anybody would behave like Eddie’s mother did is difficult to believe, However, I found the ending very confusing and unsatisfactory. Sadly not a book I would recommend.

Free courtesy of Netgalley

I've never read a Faith Hogan book but I really enjoyed the majority of this book. The ending was a bit strange, I can understand what was trying to be achieved but not sure it was pulled off, but it didn't stop me enjoying the book.

Liv is a nurse, working in a busy Dublin A&E, on Christmas Eve after a late shift, as she is making her way home, she is crossing the road at the same time as a handsome stranger, when from nowhere a motorcycle is heading towards them. He pushes her out of the way and takes the hit, she then goes with him back to the hospital, where he is admitted with life threatening injuries. Does she stay with him, or travel with her best friend Pete back to her home village to spend Christmas with her family.

The book then takes a sliding doors effect, the story splits into if she had stayed and if she had left.

Dealing with the loss of her twin sister and the unsuitable relationship she fell into just after her sister died, we see how each option would reveal her future.

I really enjoyed the book and would definitely read more from this author.

I think everybody at one time or another has always wondered what if? What if I chose a different path?

Well this happens to live and we get to see what would happen with both paths, while it is a little confusing the back-and-forth, I did enjoy this book.

3.5 Stars

I’ve a newer fan of this author and was excited to receive her new Christmas Book. 

Two stories in one, road traveled or road less taken? Took maybe 2-3 chapters in to get in the flow, but after that it took off. It helped that the stories are in different fonts. I enjoyed the Liv, ER nurse that is saved by an accident. The Liv doormat, not so much. Wanted to smack her upside her head! I couldn’t read fast enough to see what happened…then, WHAT!?!? I had hoped for a better ending but it left me scratching my head. This will not deter me from reading this author again.

Thanks to Ms. Hogan, Head of Zeus/Aria and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

On the first day of Christmas by Faith Hogan is a gloriously, unashamedly Christmas book and it is full of characters that you would want to meet in your local village. There is a family that are farmers and a useless user of a boyfriend and the best male friend ever.
Liv is a nurse in A& E, who had a twin sister Rachel, who died. Her best friend Pete was the love of Rachel’s life and she the love of his. Then Christmas comes and Liv realises that she is never going to be asked to marry her long term partner because he and Anya, Pete’s girlfriend are sleeping together.
Things change and life moves on, then New Year comes and again it is the time for new beginnings and endings. Will Liv happily ever after, will Pete?
Highly recommended

An enjoyable book, although I have to say that at times, I found the two different stories / scenarios a bit confusing, especially towards the end when the two sides were getting closer. However, Liv was a lovely character who hadn't deserved what life had thrown at her so far and I felt it was only right that things improved for her.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review..

A tragic start that then splits into two possible directions. I found this a little confusing switching between the two. Don't be fooled by the tile and cover this is not your usual warm your heart, festive read. Beautifully written but difficult to follow.

Thank you Netgalley and Head of Zeus, Aria for the chance to read On the first day of Christmas by Faith Hogan. I have loved the author's previous books, The ladies midnight swim club, and The Gin sisters' promise so I was excited to read another story from Ballycove. This one was a bit different and I must admit at first I had difficulties getting into it, until I realized it is written as a parallel storyline. After finishing her shift at a Dublin hospital, Liv has a chance encounter with a stranger who saves her life, but is injured. Liv is torn between staying at the hospital to watch and care for Finn, or heading home to spend Christmas with her family. She ends up heading home, or does she? Liv ends up living both choices, but as both Liv's continue her lives, will she find happiness in either of them? After I was able to get into the rhythm of the story, I settled down and began to really enjoy it. Liv in her original self, was stuck in a rut, and was a doormat, allowing her boyfriend to control her life...this Liv I had a hard time liking. Luckily the other Liv began to surface, and was of much stronger stuff, a woman who knows what she is worth. The ending was emotional, and beautifully written. I totally recommend this story, especially for anyone who loved the movie Sliding doors. 41/2 stars

Obviously a Christmas based book- sliding doors type story line- which is slightly confusing at times but once I got into in I enjoyed it . My 2nd Faith Hogan book and have enjoyed both.

Too soon for a Christmas book? Never! I am the true Christmas grinch so I try to read festive books every year to keep my spirits up and get me in the mood. This was a sweet ‘sliding doors’ style book which has all the festive-feels you could possibly wish for. Cosy and uplifting, it’s a very sweet read that is just right for this time of year. The two diverging stories are helpfully printed in different fonts so that you can keep track of where you are and the resolution is lovely. I thought the writing was very good and reading On the First Day of Christmas has made me want to read more of Faith Hogan's books.

Live is an A & E nurse in Dublin and is going home after the last shift before Christmas when she is nearly run over by a motorcyclist but saved when a stranger pushed her out of the way and it hit himself. The story then sp,it's to 2 storylines running alternatively. Does Liv say and to thank her rescuer or go home to Ballyc9ve and her family for Christmas?
At first I found the split stories a bit confusing especially as my Netgalley ARC had very similar fonts for the 2 storyline. Hopefully the paper version will make it clearer. In spite of that I enjoyed exp.oring Liv's life and thought that the characters were well described and I cared what Liv decided to do in the end.
An unusual story but I did enjoy it.

Favorite Quote:

Go ahead, eat that frog.

My Review:

I struggled with this one and needed to ruminate for a few days before I could write a coherent review as I was rather disgruntled upon reaching the conclusion of the mystery. The book was unusually plotted with puzzling parallel timelines and similar events with the same characters. I was a bit baffled and bewildered with each shift, yet I was also quickly invested in the story and fell right into this wily author’s trap.

Multiple theories were developed, discarded, and circled yet again during my perusal - including parallel universes, dissociative personality, coma dreaming, reincarnation, paranormal spirits, etc. The characters were as thoughtfully constructed as the storylines with the beleaguered main protagonist being perversely stubborn and desperately clinging to her fantasy with an exasperating case of denial as a bonus. I wanted to give her a few hard whacks with my Kindle to dislodge her gray matter from her colon long before she got there on her own. But despite my irritation, I must give this crafty author her due, Faith Hogan is a perceptive and gifted scribe who kept me engaged and immersed in her story, even when it vexed or displeased me.

Sadly not my cup of tea.
Too disjointed, hard to get into.
Too many characters.
Thank you for the opportunity to read early.

This was very confusing book, I didn't finish it as each chapter seemed to be different, I am not sure if it was because it was an early copy and the finished book may have been better to follow, but I couldn't finish it, sorry.

I enjoyed the dual storyline - think sliding doors. Liv is a nurse and is leaving on Christmas Eve, to go home for Christmas to Ballycove to be with her family. She avoids being in a traffic accident when a man pulls her back from the road and is instead, hit himself by the car. The story then splits; what would happen if she stayed with him at the hospital and what would happen if she went home.
It worked well although there were times when I was slightly confused as to which storyline we were in!